Check out these deals from our partners

Enter to win a new camera, studio lighting kit and more!

It’s our birthday, and we want to celebrate with you! Check out our 21st birthday contest and win a free photo toolbox just by entering. We’ll have prizes every month, plus a grand prize which includes a new camera! This month, we’re giving away a studio lighting kit from B&H. Learn more and enter to win >

Cheap gear doesn’t always mean good gear

There’s an old saying — you get what you pay for. And the same rings true when it comes to camera gear. While the big industry leaders like B&H, Hunt’s, Adorama and others are authorized dealers. Their gear comes from distributors who get the goods directly from the manufacturer overseas. These distributors offer reliable, reputable service that you can count on. But what do you lose when you buy cheap, whether it be new or used gear?

Understanding grey market retailers

While B&H, Hunt’s, Adorama and your local camera store will offer you a product with a certified U.S. warranty, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, you can pay for a camera body or lens for a significantly discounted price on eBay or even from Amazon third-party retailers. These can be “grey” brought into the country by others than the authorized distributor who is often a subsidiary company of the manufacturer. There are authorized manufacturer’s distributors practically everywhere in the world.

The price discrepancy often comes from the price of local currencies. One country’s money may be less valuable than the dollar for example. A less-than-reputable dealer might purchase cameras from that country and bring them to the U.S. to sell for a lower price while maintaining a profit margin. The downside for the consumer is that the warranty is good only in the country where the camera was sold.

Grey market gear is also known for having a different type of warranty, one that most domestic camera distributors won’t honor when you send it in for service. Some distributors go so far as to refuse to service any type of grey market gear, even for a price.

Take this example, a Canon 5D Mark IV I found at B&H. The MSRP price is $3499, and it’s on sale for $3099. On eBay, I found the same product for nearly $500 cheaper, at $2559.

They look the same, right? If you scroll down on the eBay listing, you’ll see an embed from a company called Deals All Year. Hidden on that, under About Product, you’ll find the following, which states “We carry Import Models and U.S. Models and both are available in our store.”

Most companies aren’t that clear. And it doesn’t just happen to camera bodies — a few years back, I was looking for a new wide angle lens for my Nikon D800. I stumbled upon a Tamron 15-30 f/2.8 being sold on Amazon by third-party retailer Ritz Camera. It was about $200 less than the retail price. When I contacted Ritz Camera, they confirmed that it was not covered by a U.S. warranty, meaning it was grey market.

What about used gear?

Purchasing used gear from places like MPB.com is safe, and you’re given a guarantee that stands by what they sell. Even places like B&H and Adorama sell used gear. Often the items will be marked “as is” indicating that the product does not have a warranty.

But there’s a catch

While MPB.com, B&H and Adorama will sell you authentic, certified new gear, you lose one thing when it comes to all used purchases — the original warranty.

Most camera manufacturers stipulate that only the original owner of the item can take advantage of the warranty, meaning you can’t transfer it to someone else. Technically, as soon as you buy it from someone else — whether it’s a company or an individual — you lose the option to get a warranty. Some companies will provide their own warranties you can purchase, while others will not.

While there are certainly ways around this — mainly if the original owner never filled out the warranty card, you could certainly do so — it’s frowned upon and you may have mixed results.

Used gear is great for low-risk purchases. Cheap lenses, backup camera bodies, etc. But for all my primary gear that I use in professional settings, I buy new from a camera store that sells merchandise from the authorized distributor.

Conclusion

While we all love a good deal, dealing with grey market and used gear can often be more than what we bargained for. Next time you buy something, be sure it’s from a reputable, authorized dealer, and you’ll be safe for the future should anything happen.

By shopping with our partners and affiliates, you help keep content on Photofocus free. Thank you for your support!

Share this post with your friends:

Bryan is a photographer specializing in capturing corporate events, food/drink and advertising imagery. Based in Grand Rapids, MI, he has worked with clients such as CNBC, Michigan State University, ArtPrize, Steelcase, Grand Rapids Magazine and more. His work has also been featured by Delta Airlines, NBC, Microsoft, LiveStrong and Pure Michigan.

I purchased an adapter form B&H to go from Nikon to Hasselblad. My Hassy lens fell Off. B&H sent a second one free.good service. That one failed also, this time my Hasselblad 150 lens hit the floor. The cost of he adapter was refunded. The lens NO. I am out hundreds of dollars as I have to purchase and ship Internationally, plus lost sales. I am NOT A Campy Happer. dave

0

Reply

Thanks to our partners who make Photofocus possible:

B&H – B&H is a world renowned supplier of all the gear photographers, videographers, and cinematographers need and want to create their very best work.

Skylum – Your photos, more beautiful in minutes. Makers of Luminar, Aurora and Photolemur, Skylum adapts to your style and skill level. Check out Luminar 4’s unique sky replacement and portrait editing tools, now available. Save 42% off the retail price and get the Photofocus bundle for free!

Datacolor– Get perfect color every time, whether it be for your computer monitor, camera or more! Check out the Datacolor SpyderX and start calibrating your colors today.

Excire Search – Experience the best photo organizer for Lightroom Classic, letting you easily discover photos by color, subject — even people. Try the new Excire Search 2.0 Pro for 20% off when you use the coupon code PFPro.

Xpozer – Show off your photos and fill your walls with the Xpozer frame system. Xpozer makes it easy to switch out your photos in a matter of minutes! Check out the Xpozer Start-Pack, including a 16×24″ print and frame, plus $210 worth of bonuses, exclusive to Photofocus readers!

Illuminati – Get perfect exposure every time, with the new Illuminati IM-150 light and color meter.

Drobo – Drobo is the smartest storage solution in the world. Drobo is storage that protects data — photos, videos and everything else — from hard drive failure. Drobo is peace of mind for the working pro or serious amateur who have a lot of external drives cluttering up the desktop. Save 10% with the coupon code PHOTOFOCUS.

Regardless of the type of photography you focus on, Photofocus is here as a helpful and educational resource for the aspiring and professional photographer. Our goal is to assist in your success as an artist.